The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-10-07
Take Care OF the Hair.

| tuiTty years VI aye, tnut NcrJ iuTRo
proportion is bald, or in a stage OF
partial badness, which indicates the
speedy loss Of the hirsute appendage.
The percentage Of men of all ages who
show signs of badness has been put
at thirty per cent, and by some OBJ
servers as high even as forty per cent.
From careful observations in churches,
theatres, lecture-rooms, and political
assemblies, we are satisfied that these
estimates are too high, and that twenty
four per cent. is more exact estimate.
This exhibit is alarming, as 1t ind-
Gates that the time Is near when we
shall be a nation of bald heads, and
that alopeca as disease will afllct the
youth in our schools, as through here
dity physical deformlties and illnesses
are multiplied and extended to an
enormous extent.
What is the cause of this early loss
of hairp 1t is not due to the hats or
caps we wear, not to living in hot
rooms; it is not due to the forms of
foods we consume, but, in our view, it
Is largely due to modern methods of
treatment of the hair and scalp. The
erroneous view prevails that the skin
which holds the hair follicles and the
delicate secretory organs of the scalp
must be kept as 'clean, so to speak, as
the face or hands; consequently young
men patronize BARRIERS or hairdressers,
and once or twice week they have
what is called shampoo" operation
performed; and this consists in a
thorough securing of the hair and scalp
with dilute ammonia water and soap.
so that heavy "lather" is produced,
and the glandular secretions, which
are the natural protection of the hair,
and promotive of its growth, are
saponified and removed. No act could
be more directly destructive of healthy
growth of hair than this, and no one is
more common.
The practice of frequently washing
the head in warm or cold water, al
home, with or without the adjuncts Of
soap, alcohol, ammonia, or perfumery,
is deleterious and promotive of early
loss of the hair. Men in active indoor
business-clerks, bankers, shop keep
ers in cities-are continually washing
the head. Many do this night and
morning, under the false notion that il
is necessary to cleanliness, and pro.
motive of a vigorous growth of hair,
and when alarmed at its rapid dis
appearance in early life they are at u
loss to understand the reason. The
secretion of wax in the ear passages is
natures method of protecting the
delicate machinery upon which hearing
depends. 1t closes the organ to the
entrance of insects and dust; and
fortunately the secretion is, to con
siderable extent, placed beyond easy
interference, and thus the sense Of
hearing is protected from injurious
"washouts.
The waxy secretion which is poured
out from the glandular organs which
are found in connection with the
follicles of the hair is natures product
and is designed to preserve and protect
the wonderful and beautiful head
covering. Ii we persist in removing
it altogether we must march with the
bald-pates before the frosts of age come
along to change its color. Women dc
not shampoo or wash the hair as often
as the other sex. and consequently
they are in large degree exempt from
badness ia middle life. IL is true,
however, that many women in cities
make frequent visits to the hair
dressers, and subject their tresses to
the securing" process. If this be-
comes common, it will not be long be-
fore badness will overtake the young
mothers as well as the fathers, and the
time will be fastened when children
even will have no hair to destroy with
or other caustic cosmetics.
The advice we have to offer to young
men and maidens is, let your hair
alone; keep ut safe distance from
hair dressing rooms and drug-shops,
where are sold oils, alkaline substances.
alcoholic mixtures, etc., for use upon
the hair. They are all pernicious, and
will do you harm. The head and hair
may be washed occasionally with soft,
tepid water, without soap of any kind.
AS a rule, the only appliances needed
in the care of the hair are good combs